Sergei Lezhnikov the Prosecutor of Chelyabinsk made an official apology on behalf of the state to blogger Andrei Ermolenko for an unfounded criminal indictment.

In his letter to the civic activist Prosecutor Sergei Lezhnikov also explained that with regards the unlawful criminal prosecution the blogger has the right to apply to the Investigative Committee for Chelyabinsk Region to demand compensation for damage to property and to lodge a compensation claim for moral damages. This was reported by Ermolenko to the Agora Human Rights Association, which has been representing his interests, when he passed on the text of the apology that he had received through the post. [Read more]